Pesquisa

This is the definitive textbook on European societies and the changes the continent has experienced in the social sphere during this century. This text is the only single-authored text covering this topic, offering a holistic yet nuanced understanding of the nature of European society and its dynamic nature. Colin Crouch draws on 40 years' experience as a researcher on European societies to explore this diversity across such key areas of life as patterns of birth and death, family, gender, migration, religion, conflict, economy and inequality.Crouch uses an astonishing wealth of empirical data to analyse how European society functions on national, international and continental levels with various state and non-state actors. Through this approach, and by recognising and accounting for the fluidity of society, and enduring influences such as globalisation and security threats, Crouch offers an important contribution to the study of Europe, and a pioneering methodology for the study of social class. This text is an essential for those wishing to be up-to-date in both the topic and the practise of scholarship.This text was designed for upper-undergraduates and postgraduates covering European Society, the Politics and/or Sociology of Europe. It will also benefit all readers studying social class to familiarise themselves with Crouch's innovative methodology and analysis.

Presents an argument about the direction politics is taking in the 21st century, which is highly relevant to the debates centring around Tony Blair and New Labour.

In some western European countries trade unions and employers' organizations share responsibility with government for maintaining order and efficiency in the labour market as a matter of course. in others such a role is seen as an unacceptable interference with either the free market or the prerogatives of the state, or both. How can we explain these differences? How enduring are they? Do they matter? In the 1970s there seemed to be a growing popularity for the first approach, leading to the explosion of interest in neo-corporatism; did all that evaporate during the ostensibly neo-liberal 1980s? Colin Crouch tries to answer these questions with reference to fifteen western European nations. Using a combination of rational choice theory and historical analysis he traces the development of industrial relations systems in these countries from the 1870s to the present. He ends by seeking explanations for differences further back in time, showing that longer-term historical explanations of contemporary institutions are more necessary than most exercises in policy analysis prefer to accept. 'an outstanding example of the fusion of theoretical economic analysis with historical perspective. Recommended at all levels' Choice 'It is difficult to do justice to this oustanding book in a short review or at a single reading. Colin Crouch's ambitious comparative survey of states and industrial relations provides both an abstract framework for comparative study ...and a framework for comparing the level and form of corporatism in industrial relations.' Political Studies

In Post-Democracy (Polity, 2004) Colin Crouch argued that behind the fa ade of strong institutions, democracy in many advanced societies was being hollowed out, its big events becoming empty rituals as power passed increasingly to circles of wealthy business elites and an ever-more isolated political class.Crouch s provocative argument has in many ways been vindicated by recent events, but these have also highlighted some weaknesses of the original thesis and shown that the situation today is even worse. The global financial deregulation that was the jewel in the crown of wealthy elite lobbying brought us the financial crisis and helped stimulate xenophobic movements which no longer accept the priority of institutions that safeguard democracy, like the rule of law. The rise of social media has enabled a handful of very rich individuals and institutions to target vast numbers of messages at citizens, giving a false impression of debate that is really stage-managed from a small number of concealed sources. Crouch evaluates the implications of these and other developments for his original thesis, arguing that while much of his thesis remains sound, he had under-estimated the value of institutions which are vital to the support of a democratic order. He also confronts the challenge of populists who seem to echo the complaints of Post-Democracy but whose pessimistic nostalgia brings an anti-democratic brew of hatred, exclusion and violence.

Increasingly, employees are being falsely treated as self-employed . This phenomenon the gig economy is seen as the inevitable shape of things to come. In this book, Colin Crouch takes a step back and questions this logic. He shows how the idea of an employee a stable status that involves a bundle of rights has maintained a curious persistence. Examining the ways companies are attacking these rights, from proffering temporary work to involuntary part-time work to gigging , he reveals the paradoxes of the situation and argues that it should not and cannot continue. He goes on to propose reforms to reverse the perverse incentives that reward irresponsible employers and punish good ones, setting out an agenda for a realistic future of secure work. Crouch s penetrating analysis will be of interest to everyone interested in the future of work, the welfare state and the gig economy.

Globalization, heralded for decades as a harbinger of prosperity, faces a huge backlash. Derided by right-wing nationalists as a globalist plot to undermine traditional communities, and by left-wing critics as the rule of rampaging corporations, it s become a political punching bag around the world. In this incisive book, leading commentator Colin Crouch defends globalization against its critics to the right and left. He argues that reversing the process would mean a poorer world riven by nationalistic and reactionary antagonisms. However, globalization will only be worth saving if we institute reforms to promote social solidarity and recover pride and confidence for the cities and regions that have lost out. Crouch shows that we can therefore only save globalization from itself if we transcend the nation state and subject global economic flows to democratically responsible transnational governance. Crouch provides a much-needed riposte to the delusions that risk plunging the world back into a zero-sum game of regressive economic nationalism, combining cool-headed analysis with a visionary call for a reformed and genuinely progressive globalization.

"In this book, Colin Crouch takes a step back and questions the logic of the 'gig economy'. He shows how the idea of an employee - a stable status that involves a bundle of rights - has, despite many changes and threats, shown a curious persistence. It is for this individual that Crouch proposes an agenda for a realistic future of secure work"--

Paru au Royaume-Uni en 2004, cet essai se propose d'explorer les forces sociales et economiques a l'oeuvre dans les democraties modernes. Partant du malaise profond et de la violente crise de confiance que les peuples de ces pays traversent vis-a-vis des institutions etatiques, Crouch avance que les Etats y cedent progressivement tout leur pouvoir decisionnel et leur marge d'actionaux multinationales. L'importance dmesure des flux de capitaux induits par le capitalisme moderne rend en effet les gouvernements extrmement dpendants des conglomrats. Rejets et dcrdibiliss dans leur fonction mme - garantir des services publics et sociaux la population et rpondre ses besoins -, ils dlguent ces tches des entreprises prives et perdent peu peu toute lgitimit.Concis et subtilement argument, cet essai offre une rponse cinglante aux chantres du nolibralisme pour qui les socits dites avances ont atteint le degr de dmocratie le plus lev possible ; et propose des pistes concrtes afin de redonner aux citoyens - principaux acteurs de la vie conomique et sociale - une relle marge d'action, dans le cadre d'un systme vritablement dmocratique

Lorsqu'en 2008, la banque d'investissement Lehman Brothers fait faillite, on aurait pu s'attendre a ce que l'ere neoliberale touche a sa fin. Mais c'eut ete meconnaitre la veritable nature du neoliberalisme, qui ne se resume pas a la suprematie du marche sur l'Etat. Retracant les batailles ideologiques et politiques qui opposerent keynesiens - partisans du levier etatique - et neoliberaux - thuriferaires du marche -, Colin Crouch demontre que cette bipolarisation du debat ne permet plus de comprendre les enjeux contemporains du systeme neoliberal.L'trange Survie du nolibralisme s'efforce en effet de rvler comment ce combat s'est sold par l'avnement de trs grandes entreprises, un nouveau pouvoir qui fait dsormais pice l'tat comme aux marchs. Loin de s'apparenter un aride examen des thories nolibrales, ce texte trs accessible cherche penser le rle de la socit civile , la seule force, selon l'auteur, en mesure de faire face la triade forme par le march, l'tat et les conglomrats.

There is increasing evidence of widespread disillusion with the major shift to neoliberal economic policies that has taken place across much of the world. In this account of neoliberalism’s failings, Colin Crouch recognises some of its positive contributions but also notes conflicts within the neoliberal camp - particularly those between ‘market’ and ‘corporate’ forms of the strategy. Finally, he considers to what extent those behind the great experiment are now capable of accepting its reform.

In principle the advanced, market-driven world in which we now live is fuelled by knowledge, information and transparency, but in practice the processes that produce this world systematically corrupt and denigrate knowledge: this is the powerful and provocative argument advanced by Colin Crouch in his latest exploration of societies on the road to post-democracy. Crouch shows that executives in profit-maximizing corporations have incentives to ignore or distort knowledge, especially firms in the information business of the mass media themselves, as financial knowledge increasingly trumps the other kinds of knowledge that business needs. Firms also seek to take control of public knowledge and use it for their own ends, often at the cost of other stakeholders in society. Meanwhile the transfer of similar practices to professional public services undermines professional skills and ethics - especially when these services are out-sourced to the private sector. Attempts to extricate ourselves from these problems involve reshaping the complex and often conflicting relationships among citizens, professionals, managers and financiers. This new book by one of the most incisive critics of contemporary Western societies will be of interest to a wide range of readers, from students to policy-makers and those who work in the public and private sectors.

* Colin Crouch has recently become one of the world's leading voices on neoliberalism and the financial takeover of social values * In this new book, Crouch continues to explore the themes of his previous successful books: Post-Democracy, The Strange Non-Death of Neoliberalism and Making Capitalism Fit For Society.

* Colin Crouch has recently become one of the world's leading voices on neoliberalism and the financial takeover of social values * In this new book, Crouch continues to explore the themes of his previous successful books: Post-Democracy, The Strange Non-Death of Neoliberalism and Making Capitalism Fit For Society.

Capitalism is the only complex system known to us that can provide an efficient and innovative economy, but the financial crisis has brought out the pernicious side of capitalism and shown that it remains dependent on the state to rescue it from its own deficiencies. Can capitalism be reshaped so that it is fit for society, or must we acquiesce to the neoliberal view that society will be at its best when markets are given free rein in all areas of life? The aim of this book is to show that the acceptance of capitalism and the market does not require us to accept the full neoliberal agenda of unrestrained markets, insecurity in our working lives, and neglect of the environment and of public services. In particular, it should not mean supporting the growing dominance of public life by corporate wealth. The world s most successful mature economies are those that fully embrace both the discipline of the market and the need for protection against its negative outcomes. Indeed, a continuing, unresolved clash between these two forces is itself a major source of vitality and innovation for economy and society. But maintenance of that tension depends on the enduring strength of trade unions and other critical groups in civil society - a strength that is threatened by neoliberalism s increasingly intolerant onward march. Outlining the principles for a renewed and more assertive social democracy, this timely and important book shows that real possibilities exist to create a better world than that which is being offered by the wealthy elites who dominate our public and private lives.

International Master Colin Crouch demonstrates how Magnus Carlsen was able to elevate his play to a stratospheric level and become the highest-rated chess player in the history of the game, breaking Garry Kasparov's record.

The financial crisis seemed to present a fundamental challenge to neo liberalism, the body of ideas that have constituted the political orthodoxy of most advanced economies in recent decades. Colin Crouch argues in this book that it will shrug off this challenge. The reason is that while neo liberalism seems to be about free markets, in practice it is concerned with the dominance over public life of the giant corporation. This has been intensified, not checked, by the recent financial crisis and acceptance that certain financial corporations are too big to fail'. Although much political debate remains preoccupied with conflicts between the market and the state, the impact of the corporation on both these is today far more important. Several factors have brought us to this situation: The lobbying power of firms whose donations are of growing importance to cash-hungry politicians and parties The weakening of competitive forces by firms large enough to shape and dominate their markets The moral initiative that is grasped by enterprises that devise their own agendas of corporate social responsibility Both democratic politics and the free market are weakened by these processes, but they are largely inevitable and not always malign. Hope for the future, therefore, cannot lie in suppressing them in order to attain either an economy of pure markets or a socialist society. Rather it lies in dragging the giant corporation fully into political controversy.

Capitalism is the only complex system known to us that can provide an efficient and innovative economy, but the financial crisis has brought out the pernicious side of capitalism and shown that it remains dependent on the state to rescue it from its own deficiencies.

Capitalism is the only complex system known to us that can provide an efficient and innovative economy, but the financial crisis has brought out the pernicious side of capitalism and shown that it remains dependent on the state to rescue it from its own deficiencies.

Colin Crouch examines the tremendous fighting qualities of today's top players.

Now that the process of full implementation of European Monetary Union has begun, it is time to shift attention away from the process of introduction to the implications that the common currency will have for a wide range of institutions and policy areas. The wider political and social institutions of the European Union are not well developed there is an institutional deficit which parallels the more widely know democratic deficit. Monetary arrangements of nationstates are imbedded in a range of political, cultural, economic and historical factors. Will mechanisms of these kinds eventually develop at the European level? Can national structures adapt to meet the challenge? The contributors to After the Euro tackle these questions and in doing so, take thedebate beyond the economic and sovereignty questions which have so far dominated the debate.

This text makes a systematic and up-to-date comparison of virtually all west European countries across a wide range of social institutions, including work and occupations, the structure of the economy, the family and education. Particular emphasis is placed on the place of gender and social class.

Colin Crouch presents a wide ranging survey of the relationship between trade unions, employers, and governments in western Europe. Employing rigorous economic and historical analysis, he presents powerful explanations of the diversity and significance of industrial relations in the 20th century.

El presente estudio, muestra el auge e interés de las teorías sobre el Estado, supone un intento de compaginar el carácter eminentemente abstracto y teórico utilizado en los trabajos pertenecientes al mundo académico y las preocupaciones de carácter práctico con que se encuentran quienes se ocupan de los asuntos públicos.

A finales de la década de 1980, los conflictos laborales cobraron nuevos impulsos en la mayoría de los países de Europa occidental. Este período es de vital importancia para comprender la evolución posterior de esas sociedades. La presente compilación es uno de los primeros estudios de este tipo y puede decirse que ya es un clásico.El primer volumen contiene además de un ensayo introductorio sobre las estadísticas de huelgas, seis estudios nacionales dedicados a Bélgica, Francia, Italia, Países Bajos, Reino Unido y Alemania occidental, redactados con una metodología y un hilo conductor comunes, lo que da unidad a la obra. Este segundo volumen está dedicado a realizar comparaciones internacionales de temas específicos.